Brendan Rodgers Discussion Thread

Brendan Rodgers has held Treble-building workshops with his Celtic stars and made it clear they must stay aggressive in the hunt for more glory.

The Parkhead boss is gearing up for the start of the competitive campaign with a Premiership opener against Ross County on Saturday. Celtic go into the term defending the title and also both the Viaplay and Scottish Cups.

Rodgers knows how to go back-to-back on the treble front having done it in 2017 and 2018 during his first spell at the club. The manager also put Celtic into line for a third successive clean sweep by winning another League Cup before moving to Leicester in 2019. Rodgers understands what needs to be done and has spelled it out as he explained: “I can give the players advice on what the pitfalls are when you’ve done a Treble.

“I have actually been through that with them over the course of the pre-season. We have done little workshops based around having that success, but also what the pitfalls of success are and what the traps are that they have to be aware of. That’s something I can help with.

“The key thing is that you have to stay aggressive. You can’t go timid. In anything. That’s number one, and you find that out from how they defend, from how they run. Do they run the same way and do they press the same?

“That’s when you see it. Everything is based on aggression and your intent because, when you don’t have that, you don’t quite get there. You never get close enough to touch the opponent. I can spot that very, very quickly.

“It’s about shining a light on the importance of it. I think some people will have it within them, but they might not understand how important it is.

“It’s adding those little details to their game. I look at Liel Abada at boys like that because I think if you can be really aggressive in your pressing then your offensive game will be aggressive.

“There are some things you can’t give people, but there are things you can make them aware of and things you impose on the pitch. And, with the greatest of respect, if the players don’t deliver that then they don’t play. It’s a pretty straightforward agreement.

“The beauty here is the club has done great so far in refreshing the squad. There is competition and that’s always great for players as well, but it’s about knowing what’s ahead and having that anticipation for it.

“You want to anticipate what the issues could be further down the line. That means you can then recap on all of that. You’re always trying to deal with pressure by anticipating it. There will be pressure over the course of the season. But this is a group that is open to learning and open to understanding what those traps are.”

Rodgers says it is important to have such discussions and talks with his squad as he lays out his framework and sets the goals. The boss did it immediately in pre-season after he rejoined and added: “It’s not rocket science. It’s just giving clarity.

“In any line of work, I think it’s good if you know the expectations from the first day. I’m a manager who isn’t pretending to be interested in the players. I am interested in them and the staff.

“I need to let them understand what my motivations to be here are and what I expect day to day, what I can promise to them. Then we can work together and help them be the best they can be. I always think that’s important, to start with clarity from the very first day and then we’re all on the same page.”



Brendan Rodgers believes ‘everything is possible’ as he sets out to create even more history at Celtic.

The returning manager’s second spell in charge gets underway in earnest this Saturday with the dawn of a new Premiership season. Celtic will raise the league flag before taking on Ross County, the first hurdle in their bid to back up last season’s treble.

Rodgers won back-to-back clean sweeps after first taking the reins in summer 2016, and it was well over a year into his tenure before he lost a domestic game. Reaching such heights again would be a stunning feat, but Rodgers wants his team to believe they can achieve anything this coming campaign.

“Everything is possible,” he insisted. “Each season brings a new challenge. When I think back to when I came in here the last time in 2016, at the of it, everyone was saying it was all smooth and it was a great andd we were invincible, but it certainy wasn’t that when we came in.

“When we came in, people were talking about we’re finished. People were talking about having to be moved on. In general there was a feeling, obviously, Rangers were coming back into the league having beaten Celtic well in the Scottish Cup, even though it was on penalties.

“So there was a lot of work to do back then. Obviously, when you have success, people don’t see that and just think it’s all fluent.

“But I knew when I came there was a lot of work to do, infrastructural work, structure of the team. Ronny had a really good spell and it was about coming in, building on that and bringing it forward.

“We managed to do that but I’ve said before, that’s in concrete. It certainly wasn’t the reason I came back. I came back because I do feel as if I have unfinished business here.

“I wanted to come in and push on again with a new group of players. There is a clean slate because many I’ve not worked with before.

“I wanted to see if we could do that again with another generation of player.”

Currently, Rodgers has a lot of players to choose from. Too many, in fact. There are still in excess of 30 first-teamers on the books at Celtic, but the manager is content that there will be a natural trimming of numbers in the weeks to come.

“There will be a natural feel to the squad in the next number of weeks. Most of the players are clear on where they stand, there’s still a bit of time in the window.

“They wanted to come in and have a chance to work with the new manager, and obviously for me to assess them and lots of the players understand where they’re at, in terms of the opportunities they’ll have here.

“I like to be open with them about where they’re at, so that if they do decide to stay, they understand the conditions they’re working in. But there are some players, and it happens at every club, who haven’t quite pushed on, but then all of a sudden something happens and the world changes for them.

“I like to see that player, I like to work with that player. In terms of the group, it’ll work itself.

“There were some young players brought in at the beginning of the window based around the possibility that players might leave. Even if they don’t, they still have potential to grow.

“We don’t need them ready now, but hopefully they can grow over the next couple of seasons.

“Yeah, everyone will know where they stand. If someone doesn’t fit into what I’m doing, or not into the program, they’ll have the opportunity to leave. If they decide to stay, they will be respected. Their game time might be limited, but they won’t be wandering.

“I’ve had open conversations with a number of guys already, so they know where they fit, they know that they’re a part of the squad. If they want more game-time they may have to look elsewhere.”

 

I love listening to him talk about coaching. Ange rarely did that. Lenny never did that. I don't really remember MON or WGS doing that. Ronny did a bit (one of the reasons I still really like him to this day) but not as much nor as well as Rodgers.

I could listen to him talk about coaching all day.

 

He could definitely get a very high paying tax free gig in Saudi if he wants to.

 

if anybody boos him today they need to take a look at themselves.
what does it achieve? Do they want a new search for a manager or do they think it will make the team play harder?

 

GTF!!!!? Why????

Because I said I wouldn't clap him. * me. I was only thinking out loud. Thought that was the point of a forum. An outlet no?

Like @The Prof says it's each individuals choice how they want to react, and yes I've stated I won't applaud him when he's individually announced.

But does anyone think out of 50 thousand plus there will be no boos!!!

And for context I was there the day when Fergus got booed on flag day so it does and will happen today. Sadly.

 

Can't stand the man but I wouldn't boo him. Wouldn't applaud or cheer him either.

 

Think he's well prepared for needing to win some people over again, so I've no issue with anyone holding off with the adulation. As long as it doesn't get nasty.

 

Just my opinion too mate..he’s our Manager took some balls to come back, let’s be honest. Back the team, back the Manager, as I bet you’ll be clapping him come May with another treble in the cabinet. HH

 

I'm one that slated him when he left! Time for all to get over it and move on.

Back the Team! Back the Manager!

NL fuked the 10.

 

A bizarre decision to replace Kyogo with Forrest instead of Oh. Ok so he put Maeda through the middle and Forrest wide but still can't understand him not putting Oh on. He was excellent the other night and you'd think he'd want to give him a chance to build on that. Strikers more than any other position are confidence players. Not gonna do much for his self-belief being left on the bench after playing so well. Especially when a done James Forrest and Maeda are the preferred options.

 

Strikers are confidence players you say, and last time Maeda played through the middle he got a hat trick.

 

Yeah and TODAY he was *. Did nothing, brushed off the ball like a wean and miss-hit passes and crosses all game long. Well done.

 

Said there starfelt could be gone next week

 

I'll probably get pelters for this but I'm not fully convinced yet. I know it's still early doors but I'm not seeing much of a cohesive style to our play just yet, not too much of a clear identity beyond the obvious change in formation. Add to that the upheavals in the squad and the fact we haven't really brought many first-team players in yet - things that aren't necessarily the fault of Rodgers, obviously - the whole era so far just still has some way to convincing me fully. Early days still, of course.

Weird decision to bring on Forrest today for Kyogo too, not that it matters too much.

 

The intensity has definitely dropped off from Ange. I think that will benefit us in Europe but domestically Ange's approach was perfect. I'm not a fan of the slow build up at all. Forrest over Oh was a bizarre call, as was Maeda completing the full 90.

I like what he's doing with Kyogo though. Getting him more involved is a masterstroke but Ange's stubbornness held him back.

All in all, a weird first game back. I'd give it a 6/10 performance wise. Let's hope we get some badly needed quality in soon and start picking it up again.